HM513 is a team-taught course which blends online and face to face learning in many different ways. Neurological Domain is one of 10 required, intensive, Problem Based Learning (PBL) courses, each lasting 2 to 4 weeks.
The most unusual feature of HM513 is its blended implementation of in-person small group and online problem-based learning. Small, in-person groups of students view and interact with online content, as a live, in-person group. The class is divided into groups of 7 to 9 students who meet for 9 two-hour sessions with a faculty preceptor. These in-person groups together access online video and text-based patient case studies. Each case study includes patient history, physical exam, and closure (outcome) as well as stimulus questions. After the students meet the patient, as a group they submit what they see as important identifying cues and make hypotheses about underlying causes. When the group types in and submits their answers, they are shown how an expert answered.
On their own students explore a rich collection of interactive online learning materials, many of which are custom-designed for the course. Neuropathology Navigator covers CNS pathology content for HM 513, including didactics, illustrations, images, self-testing options, and interactive games for review. Special features include:
- Relevant problems and compelling cases
- Clear educational objectives
- Provides social/cultural information as part of the case studies
- Logical, consistent and very engaging framework for content and practice elements
- Numerous practice quizzes, practice cases and interactive games
- Technological convenience – students have a choice to download specific types of content information they would like to have accessible for review or local use
- Available to students even after they have completed the course.
A Neurological Exam web site was created to provide access to movies of a neurological screening physical exam, divided into short sections for easy access, along with explanation of interpretation of physical exam results. Links to Patient Video Clips within ANGEL give students easy access to the various movie clips demonstrating seizures, movement disorders, and other neurological disorders they encountered in lectures or case studies.
Students in East Lansing and Grand Rapids attend 21 live/videoconference lectures with flexible options for viewing or reviewing lectures online. Lectures were broadcast in real time using videoconferencing equipment between E. Lansing and Grand Rapids. Some lectures originated in East Lansing and others in Grand Rapids. In the remote location, students could see both the PowerPoint slides or videos (on a large screen) and the lecturer (on a smaller screen), and could ask or answer questions during the live lecture. The lecture audio/video was captured using Camtasia Studio. Students could view the lecture as streaming or downloaded video or they could download an audio only (MP3). Recorded lectures were posted on the ANGEL website, usually available the same day as the lecture.
Evidence of Effectiveness
Student feedback indicated that the computer-based instructional materials and the coursepack were well-organized, effective, and helped students master the large amount of content. Students appreciated the videos shown both in the lecture presentations and as part of the PBL case analysis.
Kathy Lovell, Ph.D., Neurology/Ophthalmology and Neuroscience Program,
Course Director
Geraud Plantegenest, M.A., Medical Education Research & Development, interaction and instructional design support
Andrea Bozoki, M.D., Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology, lectures and CDG member
John Thornburg, D.O, Ph.D., Dept. Pharm/Tox, lectures and CDG member
Art Weber, Ph.D., Dept. Physiology, CDG member
Christopher Glisson, D.O., Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology, lecture and CDG member
Deborah Gelinas, M.D., neurologist, Grand Rapids lectures and CDG member
William Falls, Ph.D., Dept. Radiology, lecture
Sandra Cottingham, M.D./Ph.D., neuropathologist, Grand Rapids lecture
Howard Chang, M.D./Ph.D., Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology, lecture
Jayne Martin, D.O., Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology, lecture
John Goudreau, D.O./Ph.D., Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology, lecture
Kevin Berger, M.D., Dept. Radiology, lecture
